Synonyms of deceptive

deceptive

adjective

di-ˈsep-tiv 

1

as in misleading

tending or having power to deceive

in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misleading
• false
• deceitful
• deceiving
• incorrect
• specious
• ambiguous
• delusive
• beguiling
• fallacious
• inaccurate
• fraudulent
• delusory
• subtle
• deluding
• crooked
• cunning
• dishonest
• treacherous
• sneaky
• trick
• slick
• wily
• tricky
• puzzling
• perplexing
• artful
• duplicitous
• crafty
• shifty
• underhanded
• lying
• shady
• artificial
• wrong
• sly
• untrustworthy
• mendacious
• devious
• subtile
• confounding
• counterfeit
• distracting
• untruthful
• underhand
• insidious
• foxy
• forged
• fake
• evasive
• faithless
• bewildering
• guileful
• perfidious
• hypocritical
• bogus
• spurious
• trickish
• phony
• sham
• insincere
• ambidextrous
• knavish
• feigned
• dissembling
• circuitous
• fast
• equivocal
• sneaking
• jive
• defrauding
• backhanded
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• direct
• plain
• nondeceptive
• open
• frank
• straight
• candid
• outspoken
• aboveboard
• illuminating
• explanatory
• revealing
• truthful
• plainspoken
• revelatory
• clarifying
• openhearted
• honest
• trustworthy
• free-spoken
• foursquare
• elucidative

2

as in fraudulent

given to or marked by cheating and deception

a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fraudulent
• shady
• dishonest
• crooked
• false
• duplicitous
• fast
• rogue
• shifty
• underhanded
• underhand
• bent
• artful
• sharp
• deceiving
• guileful
• deceitful
• treacherous
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• subtle
• double-dealing
• unprincipled
• cunning
• unconscionable
• delusive
• beguiling
• slick
• wily
• slippery
• sly
• crafty
• sneaky
• insidious
• tricky
• cagey
• delusory
• devious
• furtive
• foxy
• perfidious
• deluding
• trickish
• defrauding
• sneaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• straight
• ethical
• honorable
• decent
• conscientious
• scrupulous
• just
• upright
• aboveboard
• straightforward
• forthright

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceptive

Outside companies can test systems for cybersecurity risks, deceptive behavior, privacy failures, bias and dangerous capabilities. — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The 11th hole at Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands offers a variety of trouble off of the tee with a deceptive view of the green. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Keep in mind that a deceptive page can copy a real committee's name. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Warren also raised concerns about X’s banking partner, Cross River Bank, pointing to prior enforcement actions over deceptive loan practices involving the bank’s fintech partners. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026